"My heart was no longer in it" - Skip Bayless opens up about Shannon Sharpe getting pushed out of FS1's 'Undisputed' 

Veteran sports analyst Skip Bayless abruptly left Fox Sports 1's "Undisputed" talk show in early August, a year after his co-host Shannon Sharpe's departure. While the two reportedly encountered friction, according to Bayless, Fox Sports "pushed Sharpe out," influencing his decision to follow suit.

Bayless and Sharpe operated as "Undisputed" co-hosts from 2016 to 2023, forming one of America's most renowned sports media tandems. However, in May 2023, Sharpe announced that he agreed to a contract buyout with Fox Sports, joining ESPN's "First Take" shortly after.

Following the move, Sharpe appeared on "The Stephen A. Smith Show" in September 2023, attributing his decision to Bayless having "no respect" for him.

However, per Bayless, the opposite is true. In a Washington Post interview released Thursday, the longtime analyst expressed confusion over Sharpe's comments. He highlighted his unwavering respect for his former co-host.

"It dumbfounds me. I only gained respect for Shannon Sharpe day after day after day that he could hang on this show," Bayless said.

Bayless, who ended his eight-year Fox Sports tenure in August, added that he lost motivation to continue after Sharpe got "pushed out."

"My heart was no longer in it because I didn't want Shannon to leave, and I fought for him to stay," Bayless said. "It was a shock they pushed Shannon out."

Bayless' subsequent departure ultimately sparked "Undisputed's" cancellation just over a week later. Meanwhile, Sharpe continues to thrive on "First Take."

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Skip Bayless says FS1's 'Undisputed' never stood a chance after Shannon Sharpe's departure

While "Undisputed's" ratings cratered following Shannon Sharpe's departure to "First Take," Skip Bayless seemingly wasn't surprised.

During his aforementioned Washington Post interview, Bayless noted that he struggled in a facilitator role with a new cast of co-hosts in Sharpe's place.

"After the first show, I said, 'This just doesn't work for me because I’m a fire starter, and if I moderate, I have to stay moderate,'" Bayless said. "After a while, I didn't even look at the ratings, because I knew what was coming: we would get crushed. And we did get crushed."

However, according to the Washington Post, Bayless plans to move on to new media endeavors. That includes "creating a digital network for a YouTube channel" featuring "an interview show and a debate show."

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